This Friday at 5:00 PM Arlington County will release the new tax assessments. To view your assessment you can use the following link: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/RealEstate/reassessments/scripts/DREADefault.asp Don't forget that you can always contest your assessment. Since we have had an overall increase in sales prices year over year we might expect to see an increase in assessments. After they come out, we'll talk about this some more.  01/12/2011

Arlington VA Home Sales Report Arlington, VA Home Sales Real Estate Statistics, Charts, Graphs and Trends for Arlington VA Home Sales.  Find the most recent Arlington VA homes sales data, real estate sales trends in charts and graphs, and statistics compiled from the most recent MLS sold data in MRIS. Arlington VA Real Estate Statistics: Arlington VA December 2010 Home Sales Arlington VA Zip Codes MLS (MRIS) just released the most recent Arlington VA home sales statistics for our region on January 10 2011, for December 2010 home sales.  Arlington VA Real Estate Statistics Arlington Co. VA Closed Home Sales Arlington Co. VA Pending Home Sales Arlington Co. VA Pending Home Sales vs. Closed Sales Arlington Co. VA Average Home Sold Prices Arlington Co. VA Closed Home Sales - Median Sold Pri... 01/11/2011

Details, Details. On the DISC personality test, I am a very high D, meaning 'get to the point and don't bother me with details'!!!  But, they cannot be ignored can they? Luckily, I have a few that I have been able to master: I use gold paperclips for anything going to clients (there's a mental message their). NO blank spaces are left in a contract. Never leave the house without clean shoes.  ??? I'm not crazy, go read 'How to Dress' articles.  They will tell you every time that people noticed scruffed shoes before anything else about you. No matter how careful the client and I have gone through the paperwork, I always go through again to see if we missed something (and 4 times out of 10 we do). I still don't check my teeth after a meal for little green thingies.  Oh well, like I said, I... 01/11/2011

Being the Smartest Doesn't Mean You're the Best. I'm not sure why this popped into my head this morning, but when it did I decided to write it down again. When I was going to real estate school (you know the one, where you go to have the right to take the license exam), there was one woman I remember in particular.  She had an air of superiority about her and always aced the tests.  I remember one time, she received the test back and it was marked with one wrong. Well, you couldn't tell the difference between a NASA rocket blasting off and her reaction!! Me?  Passing grade was 70 and I never made more than 75.  Under my circumstances at the time, I just wanted to PASS!  Next came the State and National exams.  I took the State 3 times; National 2 times.  And never failed by more than 2 ... 01/09/2011

The Williamsburg Shopping Center is the retail establishment in my neighborhood, Williamsburg/Berkshire Oakwood on Sycamore Street in Arlington.     It has a delightful mix of shops and restaurants, including the new and delicious Deli Italiano - which delivers 7 days a week, and has a few nice tables and stools for dining in as well.   It seriously has one of the best cheese pizzas I've ever tasted!     It is also home to a wonderful tailor/dry cleaner - Jin's, Virginia Commerce Bank, Peking Pavilion, Backyard BBQ, some hair salons and a pottery store.         Back in late October, residents were saddened to see the local 7-11 in the Williamsburg Shopping Center abruptly shut down.  It was the anchor of the plaza and always buzzing with activity.  You really rarely could go into the 7-... 01/09/2011

Arlington VA Home Stagers Home Seller Tips - Staging Arlington VA Home Stagers - Advantages of Staging Your Home to Sell Stage A Home There is always a reason why homes in Arlington VA don't sell. They are not staged.  Have you ever noticed a home in your neighborhood that doesn't sell?  Have you seen the inside?  Has your own home in Arlington VA been on the market for a while and it's not selling? Have any offers been made? Have any offers including low offers been made on your property? Is your home priced right? Are other homes selling in your neighborhood and selling while your home just sits? Does your home show well on the exterior with great curb appeal and the interior as well?  Are your colors neutral? What about the carpets, and interior and exterior paint?  Perplexed?  As a ... 01/09/2011

One of my new year's resolutions is to exercise every day, for at least 30 minutes.  I have an elliptical in my basement and watch TV while I do it.  I typically stay away from real estate shows, as I live these things every day, but two days ago I stumbled upon "The Unsellables" on HGTV and was hooked!   HGTV is a network that has taken nearly every possible issue related to real estate and turned it into a TV show.  I really appreciate these shows, they often prep my clients and they understand that you can't just stick your house on the market and go on about your business.  Most people who watch these shows get the basics of staging, de-cluttering and neutralizing a home to appeal to as many people as possible.  And that makes it much easier for me to do my job! In this episode of T... 01/09/2011

2110 N. Emerson Street BURKE, VA Great price in Wonderful Area !! Close to EVERYTHING. The value is in the land. 2BR/1BA Single Family House $350,000 Year Built 1939 Sq Footage 962 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Uncovered spaces Lot Size 5,000 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DescriptionGREAT Location !! Close to EVERYTHING. Home is being sold for LAND value only. Rehab potential. Tax value of land is $401k. A number of homes in the community have already been renovated. New siding and new windows. Excellent investment opportunity. The home is not habitable in its current condition. Will qualify for FHA 203k loan. The value is in the land. Property Features Family roomLiving roomDining roomDishwasherRefrigeratorStove/Oven Other Special Features Arlington Home / La... 01/08/2011

Do You Know Your Value Proposition? If someone walked up to you right now and said "Why should I hire you and not the other guy", could you tell them in 30 seconds or less? Do you know your value?  Do you believe in your value?  Do you have something memorized that just sounds good? It makes a difference, you know.  The more you understand your true value, the faster and more sincere it will come from your lips. And if you have just memorized something?  They'll know. 01/08/2011

For the latest in real estate market activity for Northern Virginia, watch this informative video from the MRIS/multiple listing system. These are broad county-wide trends. Remember: all real estate is local, hyper-local in some cases. If you are planning to buy or sell a home in Arlington, the market dynamics are not the same as in Leesburg. Consult with an experienced local Realtor® first to understand the trends that will most affect you.     01/07/2011

The Debate About Buyer's Agreements. EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REPRESENT BUYER AGREEMENT.  In Virginia, we have this contract between a buyer and agent that the two of them will work with each other exclusively for a stated amount of time. One school of thought:  NEVER go out with anyone to show homes without an exclusive agreement.  The buyer's might go back to the home with a different realtor and buy the home; or buy through the listing agent. Second school of thought:  Don't worry about it. Finally, the way with which I'm most comfortable:  If I have to bind somone to me with a piece of paper I don't want to work with them.  If Igive them the type of service they want and deserve, their use of someone else will not happen.  They will be loyal.  Naturally, there are exceptions but I don't s... 01/07/2011

Change Course IMMEDIATELY! This is NOT about positive thinking, it is about positive DOING. Personally, I've seen many many people who think positively and very few of those people who ACT positively. I want people to go deeper than that.  I want people, when something goes wrong in their lives, to DO something about it IMMEDIATELY.  Life and the world does not stop; it will never stop, it will never even slow down. And there is too precious little of it to waste on feeling sorry for ourselves when we don't have to waste it. And this advice applies to ME also! 01/06/2011

Does Your Enthusiasm Have Legs? It's the start of the New Year and, as usually, we are bursting at the seams to get out there and start fresh.  It's the same as a new job, a new relationship, a new car. We go at 'It' (whatever 'It' is) full steam.  And then....we start to s........l..........o.........w down. Why?  I think I know.  In high school I was told by the coach that I would be running the mile.  I soon learned a valuable lesson:  the mile has to be run in three parts:  beginning; middle; end. There is a different strategy that must be used for all three; but I didn't understand that then.  I just planned the beginning......run as fast as I can as soon as the gun went off!  Well, that was a total disaster. Having a successful YEAR is no different.  I think we put 90% of our ene... 01/05/2011

Getting Ready for an Important Appointment. Fairly typical situation.  You have an important appointment.  A hour before, you're scrambling to finish for it.  30 minutes-"I'll never be ready in time".  15 Minutes---"Just throw it together".  Meeting time---you've just taken 30 seconds to try and gain your composure. I have it about right, don't I?  And YES, I've done it too. Most of us have played sports.  Did you ever just meet at the field and start playing?  No.  We spent a lot of time preparing beforehand because there are rewards to be had if we win. Well, ladies and gents, an important meeting is like a championship game.  Their is a lot on the line--your welfare and that of your family.  PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE--------beforehand.  Go into the game with a game plan and a clear m... 01/04/2011

Pricing the Home Right. Over the holidays I was doing some catch-up reading.  As always, I paid particular attention to articles about correctly pricing the home. Most important:  Recently sold comps; overall home condition; and active comps. Least important:  Price per sq.ft; Age of Home; Miscellaneous What does this say?  First of all, and I think the most important----the seller has to be realistic about the asking price, and what he wants has to be in direct relation to what similar homes are worth.  After the debacle we just went through, almost no buyers are willing to fork over tens of thousands of cash dollars over the appraisal price. Sellers, PLEASE pay attention to the numbers.  If you don't believe them, have your realtor sit down at your computer and show you where he/she g... 01/02/2011

Finish the Goal Challenge. I would like to challenge my fellow AR's to a duel this year!           Carefully think about goals you want to accomplish this year--more listings y-o-y; attainment of a certain financial level; raise your average sales price; etc.  Anything that is important to you. Make it/them easy or difficult but attainable.  When you reach your goal and there is still time left before midnight 12/31/2011, push the goal line out a little further. The ultimate goal  is to taste the sweetness of victory as much as possible this year. Before you accept this challenge, make sure you are ready for it because you are not going to allow yourself any excuses.  If an obstacle presents itself you will simply start looking for a way around it. TASTE THE SWEETNESS OF VICTORY!!!  It'... 12/31/2010

All of You Reminded me:   Something I'm REALLY grateful for:  ALL the new friends I've made this year.  It doesn't matter whether we've met or not.  It's the confirmation that the world isn't what the front page of the newspaper says about people; it's really about people like YOU! I'm very proud to know each and every one of you. 12/30/2010

I Have a LOT to be Thankful for this Year!! and so do YOU. I learned from Brian Buffini that you MUST reflect back on the past year and realize that many good things happened in your life.  Here are a few of mine. #1 for me is that I was declared cancer-free a year later. I capped 5 months earlier this year than last year---that means that I now receive 100% of my commission for the remainder of my anniversary year. A lot of individual ideas came together to help me decide what I want to focus on, business-wise. A drive that I began in Sept 2009 to have the office reach 100% donations to Keller Williams' KWCares program was reached in May. I sponsored 3 non-cappers and two cappers into Keller Williams this year. Wendy and I had a really great vacation on the California coast in June. Pu... 12/30/2010

I Missed an Appointment Yesterday. Luckily, this one will not cost me any money; but that's not the point.  I made the appointment last week with a fellow agent at another office.  I wrote it in my calendar. Yesterday, about 30 minutes after the appointed time my phone rings (When are you going to be here? The truth is, I did not even open my appointment book yesterday.  Being the week that it is, I just got the thought in my mind that I had NO appointments this week. TOTALLY, TOTALLY inexcuseable.  TOTALLY!!  We rescheduled for next week, but I wasted that man's time. The good side?  I'm not likely to forget to check my appt book for a very long time.   12/29/2010

For Whom Are You Working? This question can apply to anyone who is an Independant Contractor for a Company, not just Realtors. Do you work where you are at for your family? Do you work where you are at  to have something to do? Do you work where you are at to please someone else? Realtors, do you work where you are at  to make your Broker more money? Do you work where you are at to buy more 'stuff'? Do you work where you are at because you like everyone? Do you work where you are at because of loyalty? Do you work where you are at because you like you Broker? etc.......................................... All of these are good reasons, I don't dispute that. But here is my take on the subject:  I was always loyal to a fault---to everyone except myself.  My whole life was spent trying to p... 12/28/2010